VENUENEXT TECHNOLOGY COMES TO THE ‘MOST EXCITING TWO MINUTES IN SPORTS’

The most iconic horse race in the world just got a little more tech savvy.

Today we’re happy to announce we’re teaming up with Churchill Downs Racetrack to bring the benefits of our platform to fans at the iconic Kentucky Derby, and future events at the Louisville racetrack. This means there’s even more to look forward to this at this year’s Derby besides the signature mint juleps (Churchill Downs sold 127,000 of them last year), celebrity sightings, extravagant wide brimmed hats, visiting a venue with such rich history and the actual competition.

The Churchill Downs Racetrack app was released in time for the Opening Night of the venue’s 2016 Spring Meet on April 30. The Spring Meet includes the 142nd running of the Kentucky Derby, which is known as the “The Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports.”

All of these venue services will be tied together in one app:

Buying, managing and scanning mobile tickets

The ability to order food and drinks for select in-seat delivery and express pick-up. Items on the menu include BBQ pork sandwiches, chips, bratwurst, cookies, pretzels, hot dogs (Churchill Downs sold 163,000 total last year), beer and various other items

Profiles of horses

Ample video content

Wayfinding, so fans can easily find their way around the venue (which is about 120 acres!)

On top of that, we’re integrating the iOS version of the Churchill Downs app with the Twinspires.com, the official betting site of the Kentucky Derby. This will help make it easy to navigate between expert wagering advice and mobile betting to other venue services.

“There’s been 142 years of building this place out, and it’s not like a bowl stadium where you can just keep walking in a circle to find things,” Churchill Downs General Manager Ryan Jordan told Mobile Sports Report. “To be able to use a mobile app to find your seats, find your car after the race, and find amenities like betting windows is very exciting. We have lots of signage, but there are lots of different buildings and signs, and it can be hard to find your way around.”

And as always, our real-time data dashboards will provide insights into app usage, concession supply needs, delivery times and more.

We aren’t stopping with the Spring Meet though. The app will be available for fans to use throughout the rest of the year at the racetrack!

Last year 170,000 people attended the Derby and it’s thrilling to be part of such a big day. We hope to continue to make our mark on huge events like this. We’ll keep you updated as we continue to grow into new sporting venues, and new verticals.